How long does the menopause last? How long does menopause last and when does it end? Factors influencing the duration of menopause

The onset of menopause in a woman cannot be prevented, prevented or stopped. This is a natural process of withering of the reproductive function of any female body, so it can only be alleviated and slightly slowed down. But no matter what age hormonal changes begin, any woman is interested in the question of how long the menopause lasts. This is not idle curiosity, but rather a desire to quickly overcome this stage, because the menopause is accompanied by quite unpleasant symptoms.

Why does menopause begin?

As a woman approaches 40 years of age, the concentration of sex hormones in a woman’s body decreases significantly, it becomes more difficult to get pregnant, the skin becomes more flabby and rough, and the reserves of follicles in the ovaries are depleted. It is the intensity of the decrease in the female hormone estrogen that determines how long the menopausal period lasts.

For each representative of the fair sex, this period is individual, so it is very difficult to say exactly when menopause ends.

Here are some general statistics:

• if menopause in women of your kind occurs, say, at 40-41 years old, then with a high degree of probability it is at this age that hormonal changes in your body can begin;
• During menopause, most women gain a lot of weight;
• very often women during menopause experience emotional disorders;
• Most often, menopause occurs in the period 47-53 years;
• On average, menopause can last up to one and a half years.

https://youtu.be/6RlNc5SDOIU

What affects the duration of menopause?

How long does menopause last in women? Exactly as much as the female body needs to adapt to fundamental changes and new operating conditions for all organs and systems. The slower the quantitative indicator of estrogen decreases, the less pronounced menopausal symptoms are. The following will help delay the approach of menopause and prolong youth for several years:

How to understand that you have reached menopause?

Most women experience the onset of menopause without any special restrictions in their lives, 30% face problems accompanying hormonal changes in the body, and only 5% of the fair sex can be diagnosed with pathological menopause, which lasts for many years.

The most well-known and unpleasant symptoms of menopause are hot flashes, which cause intense heat, redness of the upper body and the release of large amounts of sweat. Whatever the duration of menopause in women, hot flashes will accompany them throughout the entire period of time.

They last from a quarter to one and a half minutes and are characterized by the following conditions:

• points before the eyes;
• increased sweating;
• redness of the skin of the face, neck, chest and upper extremities;
• numbness of the limbs;
• chills after sweating;
• cardiopalmus.

The entire time menopause lasts, a woman’s psyche and her nervous system are in a “suspended” state; hormonal changes can cause the following disorders:

• problems sleeping, insomnia;
• increased fatigue;
• causeless attacks of rage, irritation and aggression;
• blood pressure may increase;
• migraine-like headaches;
• decreased libido.

Diseases associated with menopause may also occur - diabetes, hypothyroidism, ischemia, cardiomyopathy.

During the entire period of menopause in women, unpleasant, discomforting symptoms may occur in the reproductive and urinary systems:

• burning during urination;
• inflammation in the uterus;
• enuresis, both at night and with light physical activity;
• drying of the vaginal mucosa;
• itching and burning in the genitals.

If menopause occurs gradually and not abruptly, such as surgical menopause, then the symptoms of this condition do not bring much discomfort. In general, the duration of menopause in women depends on the complexity and intensity of its symptoms.

Let's look at the stages of menopause, their main symptoms and how long they all last.

What is menopausal syndrome

The physiological period of cessation of menstrual and reproductive functions is often called menopausal syndrome. The reason for the development of this stage is the gradual decrease in the activity and amount of estrogens (sex hormones), which provoke the production of the pituitary hormone. The menopausal period is divided into 3 stages:

• Premenopause. Precedes the cessation of menstruation. How long does menopause last at this stage? As a rule, the duration of the stage is from 3 to 7 years.
• Actually menopause. The phase that occurs after the end of menstrual bleeding.
• Postmenopause. This time is determined by the complete cessation of ovarian function.

Many ladies often wonder how long the menopause lasts? It is impossible to answer this question precisely, since everything depends on the individual development of the organism. Although in a normal course, menopause passes within a year. The severity of the symptoms of menopausal syndrome depends on the characteristics of the female body. The main signs of the onset of menopause are:

• headache;
• sweating;
• pressure changes;
• apathy;
• cardiopalmus;
• vaginal dryness;
• burning and discomfort when urinating;
• itching in the vagina;
• frequent urge to urinate;
• sleep disturbance;
• decreased sex drive.

Premenopause

This is the first period of menopause, its main symptom is an altered menstrual cycle. On average, the onset of this stage occurs at 40-45 years, and premenopause lasts 2-10 years , while the monthly cycle can behave completely differently all this time:

• The period between menstruation may increase, and discharge may also decrease;
• On the contrary, there may be more profuse bleeding during menstruation, which disappears in at least a week;
• the cycle may even end. This is a fairly rare case, but possible, when a woman suddenly loses her period.

Briefly about menopause

Menopause is a fairly long period of time, which consists of stages that smoothly transition from one to another. Since each female body is unique, the entire period as a whole, as well as its component phases, do not have clear boundaries.

It is impossible to answer a simple question in one word: “how long does menopause last?”

Each woman has individual characteristics of menopause, which are determined by heredity, health and lifestyle. In Russia, as well as throughout the world, 45-55 years is considered to be the average age for the onset of menopause. It comes to about 8% of women at the age of 40-42, and to 5% after 55 years and until the end of life.

A woman's body undergoes changes all the time. Upon entering adulthood, which occurs after 40 years, the reproductive system begins to decline. The ovaries gradually “fall asleep” and less female sex hormones are produced. This leads first to irregular periods, and then to their complete cessation.

The woman can no longer give birth to a child. Due to the weakened function of the ovaries, a hormonal imbalance occurs in the body, which is reflected in the activity of the whole organism. Many people mistakenly believe that only the reproductive system stops functioning. But that's not true.

A decrease in the amount of sex hormones significantly affects metabolism, as well as the functioning of the nervous and skeletal systems. During menopause, the body gradually adapts its work to the changing hormonal background.

The climacteric period consists of the following stages:

Each stage has its own symptoms, approximate time periods, as well as characteristics of the condition of the female body. We will describe each stage in detail.

Menopause

The beginning of this stage is considered to be the last day of the last menstruation. In this case, the production of sex hormones will be irregular, and the function of the ovaries will be weakened. It is at this time that an exacerbation of symptoms occurs, lasting throughout the entire period, as long as menopause lasts, and this is on average 2-5 years , starting from the age of 55.

Whatever the duration of menopause, during this period a woman exhibits the following symptoms:

• hot flashes, accompanied by a short-term rise in temperature and profuse sweating. Usually the hot flashes end after 2-3 minutes;
• headache and insomnia occur. Most often, hot flashes occur at night, which causes sleep disturbances; they can also be caused by nervous tension and constant migraines;
• As long as menopause lasts, the fair sex will be accompanied by emotionality and excessive nervous excitability. Mood swings, tearfulness and irritability, and all this can last for years;
• gynecological diseases become more active and appear;
• throughout the entire period of menopause in women, they will be accompanied by problems with the cardiovascular system (heart rhythm failure, arterial hypertension);
• no matter how old a woman was at the time of menopause, she will definitely experience memory problems, excessive fatigue and decreased libido.

Only a doctor can tell you in more detail about the symptoms of menopause, how long this process lasts, and also prescribe medications to make you feel better, so at the first signs of menopause, you should go to an appointment with a gynecologist.

What are the symptoms of menopause in women?

Most women experience pronounced symptoms of menopause. These include:

• Tides. This is a sharp feeling of heat, the average duration of which is from 30 seconds to 4-5 minutes. As a result, the face, neck, and hands turn red. In severe cases, body temperature rises. The attack ends with chills. In postmenopause, this symptom usually disappears.
• Profuse sweating. It is closely related to hot flashes and often occurs at night and in the morning. This symptom significantly reduces the quality of life and leads to sleep disturbances and insomnia.
• Rapid heartbeat, arrhythmia. Against this background, dizziness and loss of consciousness may appear. Later, the lack of vascular protection provokes the development of cardiovascular diseases.
• Dryness of the mucous membranes of the genital organs, their thinning, vulnerability. This leads to discomfort during sexual intercourse and decreased libido.
• Psychological instability, sudden changes in mood, depression. They arise as a result of women refusing to accept the menopausal condition.
• Weight gain. Decreased estrogen production, intake of fatty foods, low mobility, and decreased metabolism cause this.
• Osteoporosis. Poor calcium absorption, caused by a lack of female hormone, leads to increased bone fragility.

There are characteristic symptoms that can significantly reduce a woman’s quality of life and affect her physical and psychological health.

About 20% of women calmly accept the arrival of menopause, 15% experience serious psychological problems due to their reluctance to accept this period, 10% become more active socially and physically.

How to prolong youth in the female body?

Despite the fact that with the advent of menopause, a woman’s reproductive function has ended, her life does not end there, which means that it is necessary to maintain the normal state of the body and help it cope with hormonal changes in every possible way. For this purpose, it is necessary to consult a doctor at the first symptoms of menopause, who will select the right therapy and, in addition to prescribing medications, will also tell you about alternative treatment methods.

https://youtu.be/V2B0CA93iSg

To ensure that menopause goes unnoticed for you, be sure to follow the following rules; they will also help you delay the onset of menopause if you start following them at the initial stage:

• make a balanced diet the norm, remove smoked foods from the menu, consume less salt, marinades and fast carbohydrates. You need to eat more fiber;
• you can resort to massages and therapeutic baths;
• you need to play sports, walk more, take the stairs rather than the elevator;
• use hormonal and herbal preparations;
• drink vitamin complexes, and also eat more foods containing vitamin E.

Menopause is a certain period in the life of women that does not come suddenly and does not pass without a trace. The first signs marking its beginning appear at the age of 50-53. Menopause can last from 8-9 years to the end of life.

The course of this process can be divided into three main stages: premenopause, menopause and postmenopause, which are integral parts of one whole.

How to recognize hypothyroidism during menopause

During menopause, a woman may develop hypothyroidism, which causes a deficiency of thyroid hormones.

It is important not to confuse an incipient disease with a “golden autumn”.

Hypothyroidism and menopause have similar symptoms:

• weight gain;
• hair loss;
• fatigue;
• poor concentration.

Due to the similarity of symptoms, the disease is often not detected in the early stages. Especially when the onset of the disease coincides with the premenopausal phase, women attribute all their ailments to it.

Very often, even doctors do not connect the patient’s complaints with thyroid problems and do not refer her to an endocrinologist.

Therefore, it is very important to know the special symptoms of hypothyroidism that arise as a result of a slowdown in metabolic processes:

• feels chilly;
• limbs swell and the face becomes puffy;
• speech slows down;
• memory deteriorates;
• mental activity decreases;
• performance decreases;
• general weakness, lethargy and apathy appear.

The disease can be triggered by both external factors (stress, poor nutrition) and internal factors (hereditary problems). If a woman is suspected of having the disease, she must undergo a blood test to check her hormone levels.

An endocrinologist diagnoses the disease based on the level of basal TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), as well as free T3 and T4. After this, an effective treatment will be selected.

If the disease is not treated, it can be fatal.

How long does menopause last according to statistics?

The 3 stages of menopause and their duration are described below. All data is current for 2020.

Premenopause

Premenopause is the initial phase of menopause. The first signs indicating the start of the process of egg death are:

• weight gain
• dizziness and pain
• increased sweating

All this begins to appear closer to 50, but if the lifestyle was not ideal, then between 30 and 40 years. For 8 out of 10 women I know, such a period lasted from 4 to 5 years. The end of perimenopause is the point at which the female reproductive organs stop producing eggs.

The course of premenopause can be accompanied by various symptoms. Let me list some of them:

• An increase or decrease in the time period between ovulations, as well as their abundance.
• Hot flashes and restless sleep.
• Frequent uncontrollable mood changes, increased irritability.
• Insufficient lubrication in the vagina.
• Increased cholesterol levels.

Menopause

The beginning of the second phase, menopause, is the date of the end of the last menstruation. Due to the fact that during this period women's levels of follicle-stimulating hormone significantly increase, the risk of developing bone diseases, heart disease, obesity and diabetes increases. After 12 months from the moment of transition from premenopause to menopause, your gynecologist records the end of the second stage of menopause.

The symptoms that were companions of the first phase do not escape the second. During this period, a woman may also experience inconvenience from hot flashes, sleepless nights, and uncontrollable mood swings. But the second phase of menopause is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Increased night sweats.
• Estrogen deficiency.
• Spontaneous urination.
• Muscle pain.
• Memory losses.
• Allergic reactions.

The main reason for all the consequences of menopause is a decrease in the female hormone in the body - estrogen. It affects almost everything in our body: bones, heart, muscles, brain function. And its absence contributes to weakening of immunity to various diseases.

Postmenopause

Postmenopause is the third stage of menopause. It lasts from 5 years until the end of life. A woman’s entry into this phase begins a year after her last menstruation. Observing my friends, I can say that thanks to the stabilization of hormonal levels, this period was accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Feeling better.
• No mood swings.
• Reducing the dynamics of the appearance of physical illness.

What does menopause mean?

Menopause is a natural stage consisting in the occurrence of age-related hormonal changes against the background of involution of the reproductive system. Many women equate menopause with aging. In reality, the decline of reproductive function lasts for many years. Women usually do not notice the onset of menopause due to the subtle manifestations.

In fact, menopause literally means the decline of reproductive function. While the symptoms that arise reflect the adaptation of the female body to the changes taking place.

The benefits of menopause

1. Reducing the intensity of skin aging is the first and main advantage of menopause, and more precisely, hormone replacement therapy used to prevent and dull the symptoms of menopause. An alternative to them are isoflavones - genistein and daidzein, which are obtained exclusively from plant materials and nourish aging skin with collagen. The aging process of not only the dermis, but also the hair slows down.
2. No periods, which means you can say no to PMS, pads and tampons.
3. Freedom of sexual relations from birth control pills, condoms and means of preventing unwanted pregnancy.

Factors that provoke the onset of menopause

The reason that brings menopause closer and affects its course is our own lifestyle, which in most cases is not ideal. Two of the ten women I know, zealous adherents of bad habits, experienced premenopause 3 years earlier.

The consequence of this can also be a number of negative factors, such as frequent use of alcohol and drugs, lack of exercise and regular sex life, harmful environmental influences, stress and weak immunity.
Early onset of menopause may be a consequence of surgery. https://youtu.be/6QyyZX4WKFg

Late menopause

There are cases when menopause in women occurs a little later than usual. This is due to hereditary factors, since it is almost impossible to delay the onset of menopause artificially. We can talk about late menopause when its symptoms begin to appear after 55 years.

It would seem that such a duration of youth should only be beneficial, and one should rejoice in the fact that the aging processes of the body have slowed down, and a woman can remain young and beautiful much longer. However, this condition is fraught with extremely unpleasant consequences, including the risk of developing a tumor process in the reproductive organs and breasts.

To prevent such consequences from occurring, a woman should be examined by a gynecologist and have regular mammograms.

Treatment

It is impossible to get rid of any symptom accompanying menopause forever. But they are all treatable, which can reduce their activity. The current method of treating problems with menstruation, memory loss, pain and physical discomfort, and hot flashes is to replenish estrogen deficiency through hormone replacement therapy. But you should resort to this method only under the strict supervision of a doctor and first undergo all examinations and tests. This therapy is contraindicated in the presence of estrogen-dependent tumors. In this case, it will not be possible to suppress the symptoms listed above.

Treatment methods for the syndrome

Menopause in all its stages is not a disease, but the severity of the conditions caused by the symptoms listed above can significantly reduce the quality of life. They should not be taken for granted; they can and must be fought.

Due to the fact that most of the problems are associated with a lack and imbalance of hormones, doctors prescribe hormone replacement therapy. This is taking special medications that can take various forms: tablets, gels, ointments, patches. Their use lasts as long as women go through menopause.

It is unacceptable to start taking any medications on your own or use other (folk) remedies to alleviate the symptoms of any stage of menopause.

Any treatment is carried out only after a detailed examination of the patient, during which it is determined.

• hereditary predisposition;
• hysterectomy (removal of the uterus);
• oncological diseases;
• chronic systemic diseases;
• anorexia;
• severe stress;
• bad habits.

Many ladies should pay special attention to the last item on the list. Statistics show that women who smoke experience menopause approximately 1.5 years earlier than those who do not have this habit.

If due to neoplasms or other pathologies there is a need to remove the uterus, then the operation is prescribed regardless of the patient’s age. Ladies under 40 naturally worry that early menopause will occur. After removal of the uterus and ovaries, this is inevitable.

The woman will need long-term treatment - hormonal replacement therapy, which is appropriate for her age.

When the uterus was removed without excision of the ovaries, the situation is completely different. The surgeons preserved the body's hormonal levels. Treatment includes maintenance and stimulating hormone therapy.

Timing of the onset of menopause

As a rule, menopause occurs at the age of 50, in this case we are talking about its timely onset. With timely menopause, a woman can experience the first manifestations of menopause as early as 45-47 years old.

However, recently, more and more women are experiencing menopause at an earlier age. The reason for this may be poor environment, smoking, gynecological and endocrine diseases.

Depending on age, the following types of menopause are distinguished:

• premature – occurs before 40 years of age;
• early – up to 45 years;
• timely – 45–55 years;
• late – after 50 years.

However, menopausal symptoms usually begin several years before the cessation of menstruation.

Separately, artificial menopause is considered, the cause of which is not the extinction of the hormone-producing function of the ovaries, but the surgical removal of the uterus and appendages.

How long does the menopause last during early menopause?

Early menopause is considered to be the onset of menopause, the absence of menstruation before the age of 40. This condition can be caused by the following reasons, which determine its duration:

• Bad habits, wrong lifestyle. Smoking, excessive, constant drinking of alcohol significantly changes the hormonal levels in the female body.
• Surgical interventions. According to the doctor's indications, the ovaries or the entire uterus may be removed. In this case, the functionality of the missing organ cannot be restored.
• Chemotherapy. When diagnosing malignant neoplasms, potent medications are prescribed. They cause disturbances in the functioning of the organs of the reproductive system. The duration of this condition depends on the specific drug. In most cases, menstruation resumes some time after stopping the medication.

Among the characteristic symptoms of menopause is weight gain.

How long does menopause last in women?

The duration of menopause varies greatly depending on individual characteristics. The duration of menopause can be influenced by heredity, number of births, bad habits (especially smoking), concomitant diseases and the general condition of the body. On average, menopause lasts 5–8 years from the moment the production of estrogen by the ovaries begins to decline. The course of menopause can be divided into 3 periods - premenopause, menopause and postmenopause.

Premenopause

The first symptoms of menopause appear during the menopausal transition. At this stage, there is a decrease in the production of sex hormones by the ovaries, but estrogen deficiency is not yet very pronounced. A woman’s body is trying to adapt to changed conditions. The main manifestation of menopause is disruption of the menstrual cycle - its duration changes, periods become irregular. Other symptoms may occur, but in a mild form. Women usually experience premenopausal changes at age 45. The average duration of premenopause is 3–5 years.

Menopause

Menopause begins from the moment of the last independent menstruation and lasts 12 months. The fact of the last menstruation is determined retrospectively after 1 year. In most cases, menopause occurs at age 50. This stage is characterized by the extinction of the hormone-producing function of the ovaries, the level of estrogen in the blood is sharply reduced. Estrogen deficiency causes the development of menopausal syndrome. During the menopausal period, the early symptoms of menopause are pronounced - hot flashes, psycho-emotional disorders, weight gain, skin changes. Climacteric phenomena are more pronounced with the sudden onset of menopause, when the body has not yet had time to adapt to the deficiency of sex hormones.

Postmenopause

1 year after the onset of menopause, a new period begins in a woman’s life - postmenopausal. Postmenopause lasts until about age 75, when estrogen production stops completely. However, the symptoms of menopause disappear earlier. Hot flashes and emotional disturbances bother a postmenopausal woman for another 1–2 years, and then menopause ends. However, postmenopausal women are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

How does menopause occur in women?

Changes in hormonal levels affect the physical and psychological state of a woman. Half of the female population experiences menopause easily, but the remaining 50% may experience pain and discomfort. At the same time, no one can accurately determine how long menopause lasts in women, since the occurrence of menopause is influenced by genetic factors, habits, and working conditions. But the symptoms are almost always the same:

• skin redness;
• hot flashes;
• decreased libido;
• profuse sweating;
• chills;
• headache;
• increased irritability;
• insomnia.

Changes in the menstrual cycle

The regularity of menstruation during menopause and how it progresses directly depends on the functioning of the female body, her health, environmental conditions, previous operations, etc. For each woman, this process proceeds differently. At first, the discharge is irregular, disruptions may occur, and then menstruation stops altogether. The delay period can reach several months. Menstruation during menopause can occur in several ways:

• The cessation is gradual. The discharge is scanty, the interval between cycles becomes longer. This condition can last from one to three years.
• Abrupt cessation of menstruation. It may be painless.
• Resumption of discharge after a long period. Gradually, the break will become longer and menstruation will completely stop.

How long do hot flashes last during menopause?

Many women tolerate menopausal syndrome easily, without experiencing any particular discomfort or pain. However, some representatives of the fairer sex do not feel well during menopause. The most common symptoms of the onset of menopause are considered to be hot flashes, which cause serious physical and psychological discomfort to a woman. Hot flashes are a momentary feeling of warmth, accompanied by heat and sweating. The cause of their occurrence is the dilation of blood vessels near the surface of the skin.

The duration and intensity of hot flashes in different women depends on individual characteristics. Some may experience them only for one year, others do not feel any discomfort at all, and others have to put up with them for many years. The duration of such phenomena can be from one to 2 minutes, in rare cases up to an hour. Gradually, the severity of such ailments decreases.

How it manifests itself

In some women, menopause occurs physiologically, without any disturbing symptoms. But still, many women face manifestations of menopausal syndrome. The appearance of all changes is associated with estrogen deficiency; during menopause, all estrogen-dependent organs suffer - the uterus, mammary glands, genitourinary tract, brain, skin, heart and blood vessels, bones. All emerging symptoms can be divided into 3 groups: early, mid-term and late.

Early symptoms

Early signs of menopause appear already in premenopause. They include autonomic and neuropsychiatric manifestations.

The main symptom of autonomic disorders is hot flashes. Hot flashes are felt as a sudden feeling of heat, which is localized mainly in the upper half of the body. The feeling of heat during hot flashes may be accompanied by increased sweating. Other autonomic disorders include:

Early signs also include neuropsychiatric syndrome - mood changes and cognitive disorders. Menopausal syndrome is characterized by sudden mood swings, increased irritability and fatigue, and sleep problems. During this period, a woman begins to notice that some little things that were previously perceived completely calmly now bring her to tears or aggression. Cognitive functions are impaired: it becomes more difficult to concentrate and remember new information.

Stages of menopause

Experts conditionally divide the climacteric period into the following stages:

1. Premenopause. These are the last years of female fertility, when disturbances appear in the menstrual cycle, accompanied by changes at the hormonal level and in the general well-being of the woman. Several years before menopause, ovarian function gradually fades, estrogen synthesis decreases, the rhythm of menstruation is disrupted, and the duration of the cycle itself changes. During the normal course of menopause, many women notice a decrease in the intensity of menstruation as the intervals between them increase. This period is also characterized by the appearance of hot flashes, in addition, the woman may become more emotionally unbalanced.
2. The next stage is menopause. It begins its report one year after the date of the last menstruation and occurs at 47-52 years.
3. The final stage of menopause is postmenopause (5 years after menopause). At this time, the ovaries stop functioning and a period of physiological rest of the reproductive system begins. The ovaries and uterus become smaller, the endometrium becomes thinner, the mammary glands lose their shape and elasticity due to the loss of fat, bones become fragile, and without the support of estrogen, the heart and blood vessels suffer.

How to ease menopause

It is impossible to completely prevent the occurrence of menopause, since this is a physiological stage in a woman’s life. But it is quite possible to slightly delay the onset of menopause or make it easier. It should be understood that you need to start taking care of your health from reproductive age. It is important to visit a gynecologist regularly, lead an active lifestyle, exercise, and eat right.

Treatment may include several components: phytoestrogens, symptomatic treatment and hormone replacement therapy.

Some plants and foods contain phytoestrogens - plant estrogens. Taking them somewhat facilitates the course of menopausal syndrome, but phytoestrogens are not able to completely cover the body's needs. Phytoestrogens are found in flax seeds, whole grains and bran, peas, beans, and lentils.

Medications are prescribed to relieve some symptoms:

1. Antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) for depressive disorders and other psycho-emotional disorders.

2. Bisphosphonates for the treatment of osteoporosis.

3. Local estrogens for the treatment of urogenital disorders.

Hormone replacement therapy

In severe cases of menopause, systemic hormone replacement therapy is prescribed - internal administration of estrogens. Replacement therapy makes it possible to compensate for the deficiency of estrogen, which leads to the elimination of the symptoms of menopause. There are several types of hormonal drugs:

1. Monopreparations of estrogen - prescribed to women with artificial menopause (after removal of the uterus and appendages).

2. Two- and three-phase combination drugs containing estrogens and gestagens are prescribed to women in the early period of menopause.

3. Monophasic combination drugs containing estrogens and gestagens - prescribed in postmenopause.

Recommendations for delaying menopause

There is an opinion about the possibility of delaying the onset of menopause. Doctors say that it is impossible to delay the onset of changes, but some methods will help you easily postpone the period.

Nutrition

A balanced diet is considered the key to health. During menopause, it is necessary to pay special attention to the diet.

It is necessary to exclude from the menu:

• sweets;
• canned food;
• marinades;
• spices;
• spicy;
• salty;
• bitter;
• sour;
• strong coffee;
• tea;
• alcohol;
• carbonated drinks.

It is recommended to give preference to:

• fresh vegetables;
• fruits;
• berries;
• porridge;
• rye bread;
• marine fish;
• poultry meat;
• eggs;
• nuts;
• fermented milk products;
• green tea;
• dried fruits

Portions should be small, meals should be regular and unhurried.

Lifestyle

A sedentary lifestyle provokes vascular diseases. It is necessary to provide the body with daily exercise at a moderate pace. Walking in the fresh air, cycling, and classes in a specialized group will help you stay in shape.

With regular training, metabolism is normalized, which has a positive effect on well-being and appearance.

Psychological comfort

When the first signs of menopause appear, it is necessary to exclude stressful situations. A decrease in estrogen levels provokes emotional imbalance. Meditation will help bring it back to normal. You can learn the technique with the help of an instructor or at home.

Household members who show love, respect, patience, and prove the importance of a woman will help maintain psychological comfort. Constant quarrels have the opposite effect and lead to an early onset of menopause.

Video

We offer you to watch a video on the topic of the article.

https://youtu.be/zjFtDG-1vxQ

Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty “General Medicine”.

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The main symptoms of menopause

At the stage of premenopause, representatives of a beautiful woman begin to feel the not most pleasant symptoms of menopause. We will briefly look at their characteristics. In addition, we will give practical advice on how to make their action easier.

Hot flashes - for a short period of time (from 30 seconds to 4 minutes) the body temperature rises. Because of this, blood rushes sharply to the upper torso and head. The woman may feel dizzy. This symptom is considered the hallmark of menopause. As a rule, it is felt in the first year of the onset of the phase with different frequencies in the morning and evening hours. To alleviate her condition, the lady must completely avoid saunas, steam baths, and hot baths for this time. Be sure to include walks in the fresh air into your daily schedule. If she feels that the tide is approaching, then she should wait it out in a comfortable sitting position. In addition, you need to drink a couple of sips of cold water and wet your face. Therefore, it is advisable to always have a small bottle of water with you.

Increased sweating. It can disturb a woman both independently and during hot flashes. Sometimes a lady wakes up at night because she is all wet and needs to change her shirt. Facilitating preventive measures are to take showers and water treatments more often. Sage infusion helps many: 2 tbsp. Pour a glass of boiling water over spoons of chopped herbs and leave for half an hour. Divide the resulting infusion into 3 parts. Take one part 3 times a day.

• Headache. Before starting drug treatment, try a proven method: the contrast of heat and cold. Place a warm shawl over your neck and chest, and a napkin soaked in cold water over your forehead. Lie down until your headache stops.
• Fatigue, insomnia. You should not immediately resort to drug treatment. Ginseng root helps to raise the overall tone of the body. For insomnia, you should brew the following medicinal plants at night: valerian root, hop cones, lemon balm or mint leaves.
• Vascular disorders. Due to short-term dilation of blood vessels in the upper torso, a woman may experience sudden redness in her chest, neck and face. Nothing should be done. Everything will return to normal very quickly on its own.
• Involuntary urination. Weakening of the pelvic floor muscles leads to drooping of the vaginal wall and bladder problems. You should do special gymnastics that strengthens the vaginal muscles. It is very useful to pump up your abs and do general strengthening morning exercises.

Age at menopause

For most women, the first signs of menopause appear at the age of 45-50 years. There is also early menopause, which begins at 40-45 years, and late menopause, when menstruation continues even after 55 years. It is quite difficult to say exactly how many years menopause lasts and what the age of its onset is. These indicators are determined by the characteristics of the body and heredity.

In the process of menopause development (how long it lasts for women depends on individual factors), there are three main phases.

Stage 1 or premenopause occurs at approximately 45 years of age. When asked how long the menopause lasts in women during this phase of hormonal changes in the body, doctors find it difficult to give an exact answer. This period is approximately two years. During this period of menopause, changes in menstrual function are observed, such as disturbances in the intensity or rhythm of bleeding. As a result, both shortening and lengthening of the intervals between regulations can occur.

2nd stage. Actually menopause, which occurs between 45 and 50 years. This phase is characterized by a decrease in the level of female sex hormones in the blood and a persistent absence of menstruation. It is possible to say that menopause has occurred only if the last independent period was more than 12 months ago.

Stage 3 or postmenopause. Those who are interested in how long menopause lasts in women most often forget that it is necessary to take into account not only the time from the moment of menstrual dysfunction to the final cessation of menopause, but also early postmenopause. It usually lasts for 5-8 years. This is followed by late postmenopause.

Menopause affects the condition of hair, skin and nails. A deficiency of the hormone estrogen provokes a decrease in the elasticity of the skin, drying out of the mucous membranes, etc. The structure of nails and hair also changes, which over time become brittle, fragile and thinner. Changes in a woman's appearance during menopause (you already know how many years it lasts) also include changes in weight. Moreover, for some women it decreases.

The stage preceding the main period of menopause is premenopause. It can begin as early as 40 years of age. The main symptom of premenopause is a decrease in the level of female reproductive hormones. At the same time, connective tissue grows in the appendages, replacing the resulting follicles.

The first indicator of premenopause is a disruption in the menstrual cycle. At first there is a long delay, then menstruation may be completely absent for three or more months. Some women experience scanty discharge in the intervals on the days when they had menstruation.

By the time of postmenopause, the female body, as a rule, has already adapted to the changes and all symptoms are tolerated normally. Postmenopause can take up to three years. After menopause ends, the ovaries will never function again.

Severe headaches persist in postmenopause

Postmenopausal symptoms are less pronounced. The only concerns are rare headaches, pressure surges and problems with the gastrointestinal tract. After menopause, female genital organs are more susceptible to all kinds of gynecological diseases, for this reason it is advisable to visit your gynecologist at least twice a month.

Perimenopause is essentially the start of menopause. As a rule, the premenopausal state begins in women after 40 years of age. Sometimes it occurs at an earlier age and we can talk about early menopause. For some women, this period, on the contrary, is delayed by several years. The duration of this menopause period is on average 6 years.

Its main symptom is irregular periods. In addition, the menstrual cycle itself changes. A woman may have frequent periods, or vice versa, delays. Sometimes menstruation is acyclic.

In this case, they can start any day. The amount of blood also changes: there may be scanty (spotting) or heavy menstrual bleeding lasting 7-8 days.

This stage is marked by atrophic changes (loss of mass) in the tissues of all organs of the reproductive system. The ovaries deplete their supply of follicles.

They produce less and less estrogen, an important hormone for both menstrual function and metabolism. This leads to hormonal imbalance. Therefore, women tend to refer to the symptoms of perimenopause as menopause.

The duration of this phase directly depends on hereditary predisposition. Ask your mother and grandmother about all the nuances of the stages of menopause for them.

Having received comprehensive answers, you will have an idea of ​​the expected age at which all stages of your menopause will begin, as well as how it will progress and with what symptoms.

How long can menopause last in women? Menopause is the last independent menstruation, after which there have been no periods for a year. The doctor establishes it only after the fact. Sometimes, a woman gets her period after six months. In this case, she had a long delay and is going through premenopause.

After established menopause, postmenopause immediately begins, which continues until the end of life. Thus, the climacteric state of a woman, which is correctly called menopausal, is not limited in time. In fact, it only has a beginning. The stages of menopause differ in symptoms or their intensity.

During the menopause phase, hormonal changes that occur seriously affect metabolism. Women either gain weight, which is very difficult to lose, or lose a lot of weight.

The level of bad cholesterol in the blood increases, and therefore, there is a high risk of cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks, and strokes. Type 2 diabetes mellitus may develop.

The mammary glands decrease in size and become flabby. Problems begin with increased hair loss, brittle nails, and dry skin. Deep wrinkles appear. At the postmenopausal stage, all these problems remain and even intensify. Ladies experience discomfort from dryness and possible itching of the vagina.

In addition, water-salt metabolism is disrupted, which leads to the development of the dangerous disease osteoporosis. It leads to thinning of the inert tissue. As a result, women over 50 years old experience more frequent bone fractures and changes in posture. How to alleviate your condition?

Expert opinion

Roman Andreevich

Candidate of Medical Sciences, gynecologist-obstetrician, 14 years of work experience.

To get a consultation

Care should be taken, first of all, to change the diet and drinking regime. You need to drink up to two liters of clean water a day in small portions.

The daily diet should become less caloric (no more than 2100 calories), but you should not go on strict diets or starve. So, the lady will make the situation even worse. To replenish calcium levels, which are actively washed out of the body, you should consume more low-fat dairy products. Replace red meat with white (chicken, rabbit).

Eat more fish. The basis of the diet should be vegetables and fruits, especially green ones. Sweets must be distinguished from honey. Be sure to consume flax (2 teaspoons per day) and soy. They contain a natural analogue of estrogen, which the body really lacks. In addition, you need to pay attention to doing feasible sports and walking.

Premenopause. This is the period of time from menarche (first period) until the cessation of the regular menstrual cycle. Reproductive period.

Perimenopause. This is the period of time that precedes the complete disappearance of menstruation. This stage begins approximately 4 years before the last menstruation. For most women, the onset of perimenopause is between 47.5 and 48 years of age. It is at this stage that colossal hormonal changes occur, a decrease in estrogen levels and the appearance of signs of menopause. A woman can determine the beginning of this stage by characteristic signs:

• the duration of menstruation changes;
• the volume of secretions changes.

Menopause. This is the last menstruation and the complete stop of menstruation. On average, this stage occurs at 51 years of age. However, some factors (for example, smoking) contribute to the onset of menopause 2 years earlier.

Postmenopause. This stage is stated when amenorrhea, that is, the complete absence of menstruation, was observed within 1 year from the date of the last menstruation.

The last stage lasts until the end of life. Gynecologists conventionally combine the stages of perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause into the menopause.

Modern medicine distinguishes 3 stages of menopause:

1. Perimenopause is the initial stage of menopausal changes. The average age of the first signs of menopause occurs at 45 years. It is at this time that the characteristic symptoms of menopause are noted, although internal changes, which do not manifest themselves externally, begin at the age of 35–40 years, when the production of female sex hormones by the ovaries gradually begins to decrease. But premenopause begins its countdown precisely from the registration of the first symptoms. As a rule, at this time there are disruptions in the menstrual cycle, the woman experiences episodes of hot flashes, headache attacks become more frequent, and signs of psycho-emotional instability appear. The duration of this period is individual for each case, but on average it varies from 2 to 5 years, in rare cases dragging on for a whole decade.
2. Menopause is the main stage of menopause. This is the time of the most significant changes. There is an active restructuring of the reproductive system, the production of sex hormones by the ovaries tends to zero, ovulation gradually stops and menstruation completely disappears. Many women experience pronounced menopausal symptoms: emotional lability occurs, intense hot flashes, insomnia, sweating, sexual interest in a partner often decreases, memory and concentration deteriorate. During this period, signals of trouble from all systems and organs may appear, especially if there are any chronic diseases. Only about 10% of women go through this period of life relatively asymptomatically. Menopause usually occurs at age 50 and is considered complete when one year has passed since the last menstrual period.
3. Postmenopause is the final stage of menopause. Its duration is limited to the woman's lifespan. Pathological symptoms gradually smooth out, although they may remain present for another 3 to 5 years. At this time, external and internal age-related changes become more pronounced. The reproductive system enters a phase of complete rest, the synthesis of hormones by the ovaries finally stops, and a certain amount of estrogens continues to be produced by peripheral structures. Atrophic phenomena gradually cover the work of all organs and systems.

Features of premenopause

Doctors call the following symptoms indicating the approach of menopause:

• The appearance of such a phenomenon as tides. This is a specific condition when a woman experiences fever and redness of the skin of the face, scalp, neck, and chest. It usually occurs in the evenings and lasts 2-5 minutes.
• Profuse sweating at night.
• Palpitations and interruptions in heart rhythm.
• Loss of sexual desire.
• Thinning, vulnerability and dryness of the vaginal mucosa, which causes discomfort during sexual intercourse.
• The appearance of attacks of weakness, shortness of breath, chills. It is difficult to say for sure how long menopausal illness of this type lasts, since everything is very individual.
• An increase in the number of wrinkles, which is associated with a decrease in the amount of collagen produced by the body itself.
• The appearance of drowsiness, anxiety, irritability and sudden mood swings. Weight changes due to hormonal changes in the body.

At the final stage of menopause (how long it lasts for women, see below), symptoms such as itching and burning in the genitals, pain in the bladder and weight gain may appear.

Each human body is individual, and all the processes occurring inside it also differ in their own scenario. A number of factors influence when menopause occurs and how long it lasts:

1. Heredity is one of the fundamental indicators that determine the temporary criteria for menostasis. If your grandmother and mother experienced an early or, conversely, late onset of menopause, then it is likely that you will repeat this scenario. The duration and nature of symptoms can also be inherited. Therefore, to get approximate information about how menopause may proceed for you, have a heart-to-heart talk with your closest relatives.
2. Previous sexually transmitted infections, surgical interventions, diseases of the reproductive system, abortions can also negatively affect when and how menopausal changes will occur. Any hormonal “explosions” leave their characteristic traces.
3. A harmonious intimate life, pregnancies that end in a successful birth and long-term breastfeeding have a positive effect on the functioning of the reproductive system and hormonal levels. Conceiving and giving birth to children is the mission of the female body laid down by nature itself, therefore its successful implementation serves as a certain guarantee of maintaining health until old age.
4. Pathologies of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, diabetes mellitus are additional provocateurs for accelerating reproductive decline.
5. Oncological diseases, the treatment of which is accompanied by radioactive irradiation and chemotherapy, can cause an early onset of menopause, inhibiting the functioning of the ovaries; in addition, these methods of exposure have a detrimental effect on the nature of its course.
6. Removal of the ovaries or uterus leads to early menopause.
7. Severe emotional shocks, as well as diseases of the central nervous system, can provoke the early onset of reproductive decline.
8. Adverse habits can increase the severity of pathological manifestations and their duration.
9. Social and economic living conditions, as well as the climate zone in which the woman lives, also have an impact.

Causes of prolonged menopause

There are several reasons why menopause occurs. We'll talk about them now. Menopause occurs due to a decrease in the number of eggs, which are lost at a young age due to ovulation, as well as through atresia. FSH is a hormone that is responsible for the growth of eggs. However, during menopause, they are not sensitive to this hormone. As a result, the ovaries begin to produce less estrogen. Meanwhile, FSH synthesis increases.

During menopause, eggs rapidly disappear, eventually disappearing completely. Female hormones play an important role and regulate many processes in the body. Due to their decrease, disturbances occur and symptoms that are unpleasant for women appear.

Classification

Before you find out how long the menopause lasts in women, you should know that in medicine there is a distinction between natural and artificial menopause. Natural is associated with the depletion of the supply of follicles in the ovaries given at birth and is an inevitable phenomenon. If menopause (how long it lasts for women depends on heredity) occurs before the age of 40, then it is customary to talk about ovarian wasting syndrome. In addition, some women may be diagnosed with artificial menopause. It can be caused by:

• bilateral radiotherapy;
• complications arising from certain infectious diseases;
• chemical removal of the ovaries;
• changes that have occurred in the body after chemotherapy;
• operations performed on the genitals;
• poor environmental situation in the area where the woman lives;
• strong exposure to radiation;
• pathology of the thyroid gland.

Fortunately, artificial menopause is quite rare.

Nulliparous women under 40 years of age need to be very attentive to the appearance of the first signs of incipient menopause, since timely consultation with a doctor can prevent the occurrence of many health problems.

Surgical menopause

Surgical menopause is a condition that occurs after surgery due to the removal of the ovaries. This operation is indicated for cancer and inflammatory processes in the female body. After the intervention, menopause occurs, the symptoms of which gain momentum. In order to stop its development, it is necessary to start taking hormones in a timely manner. They will help simulate the cycle.

If the uterus remains intact, menstruation will be present. After removal of the uterus and ovaries, menopause will undoubtedly occur. Such operations are indicated for cancer and endometriosis. Even if the ovaries are preserved, their functional capacity will be lost. Women who have undergone such operations need proper hormonal correction.